Automatic self-loading hoist



July 13 1926.

` w. E. Howl-.ETT

AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING HoIS'r Filed March s, 1925 4 Shins-@Shed 1 w Uu nm www July 13 1926.

1,592,602 w. E; HGWLETT AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING HOIST Filed March 5, 19254 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13 1926.

W. E. HOWLETT AUTOMATIC SELF LOADING HOIST 4 shets-sheet 5 Filed March5, 1925 July 13,1926'. 1,592,602 W. E. HOWLETT AUTOMATIC SELF LOADINGHOIST 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Marchv 5, 1925 l ,....a.\. ..0....v..\ ar.. 4 i .l r .l n v.. l. r V w. l, .l Q. v f l v f o t o0 'Juve/1120?am@ @JM 2?/ op@ M Patented July 13, 1926.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E. HOWLETT, OF IVIOLINE, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC SELF-.LOADING HOIST.

Application :tiled March 5, 1925.

The invention relates to an automatic selfloading hoist.

It relates particularly to an automatic hoist for elevatingicoal atcoaling stations on railroads but it may be used for any other suitablepurpose.

An automatic hoist for this purpose usually includes an elevating towerhaving a coal bin near its base feeding by gravity into the tower nearthe bottom of the tower veil. An electric lor power driven hoist whichautomatically 'reverses itself serves to raise and lower a hoistingbucket in the tower. The bucket is allowed to pause long enough at thebottom of the tower to be `loaded and long enough at the top to bedumped. The opening from the coal bin into the tower is closed as thebucket is raised lo prevent the coal from passing into the tower welland it is opened when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to befilled.

One of the diflicult problems in a hoir';

of this type which has not been successfully and economically solvedheretofore is the proper loading of the bucket and the closing of theopening from the bin without spilling coal or other material'into thetower well, either at the time of loading, closing of the door, or inthe raising of the bucket, The present invention is directed to asolution of this problem.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved automaticself-loading hoist.

A more particuli-1r object is to provide a simplified automatic hoistconstructed so that the hoisting bucket will be loaded and the openingfrom the source of material supply closed without spilling or dribblingany of the material Vinto the tower well.

Another object is to unload a portion ofthe material to be hoistedduring the' initial raising movement of the hoisting bucket.

A further object is to provide an improved bucket construction in anautomatic hoist of this type.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention is illus- (rated in the accm'npanyingdrawings in which Figure l is a side elevation of portion of thehoisting tower showing the hoisting bucket in lowered position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to vFigure 1 in the Serial No. 13,118.

showing the hoisting bucket after it has been raised a short distance.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l after the hoisting bucket hasbeen raised still higher. c

Figure t is a side elevation of the portion of the bucket mechanismshowing it in three different positions. i

Figure 5 is a back elevation showing the general arrangement of thehoisting bucket, an electric hoist and a door for closing the receptaclecontaining the material to be hoisted. Y

Figure G is a rear elevation showing the bucket in lowered position.

Figure T is a front elevation of the hoisting bucket.

Figure 8 is a detail side elevation of one of the cam roller armsshowinghow it is connected to its shaft.

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the arm shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. l is a detail view of the device for causing' the bucket to tiltafter it has been hoisted. c

The general. features ofthe hoist are a tower l provided with a bin orreceptacle 2 for receiving material to be hoisted, a door or closure 3for closing the opening from the bin into the tower, and a hoistingbucket -i which is raised and lowered within the tower by means of anelectric hoist controlled by automatic switches on the switchboard 6.

The tower l is usually rectangular and it euries in height according tothe requirements of the particular installation. It is preferably builtof concrete and steel. It forms a passage way or well in which the'hoisting bucket is raised up and down. A

concret-e or wood ba or block 7 at the bottom of the tower well forms aseat for the hoisting bucket when it is lowered.

rlhe bin or receptacle 2 is located near the bottom of the tower and itpreferably has a sloping bottom 8 so that the material to be hoistedwill feed by gravity through the opening in the tower into the hoistingbucket. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the bin is builtintegral ywith .the tower but it may be independent if desired. Theopening 9 leading from the bin into 'the tower is made relatively largeand an adjustable choker plate l() is located forward of the opening,said plate being adjustably bolted tov angle bars 1l. The height of theCil tit)

plate can be varied to properly regulate the flow of materials havingditierent angles of repose. rhe location oic the plate ahead oaf theopening leave-s a vacant space at the t'orward part of the bin intowhich excess material from the hoisting bucket may be thrown. l

The door or closure 3 a heavy steel plate the sides of which travel inguideways in the tower which hold it against being t'oiced outwardly bythe pressure of the material in the bin. The door is heavilycounterweighted by the weights l2 shown in f Figure which are connectedto the door by cables i3, passing over pulleys 14. The upward ymovementot the door is limited by stops l5 which prevent it from being moved bythe counterweights past the opening. uppermost position is illustratedin Figures 3 and 5 in which it is shown as forming a barrier forpreventing the material in the bin from iiowinc into the tower.

The bucket et is of rectangular shape with the top larger than thebottom. The width ot the bottom may be varied to vary the capacity ot'the bucket. The two sides 20 and the rear 21 are higher than the frontside 9.2. The material to be hoisted is loaded into the bucket over thefront side and the height'oE the rear and ot the two sides prevents itfrom falling into the tower well. The bucket is lifted by means oit aheavy bail 23 pivoted at the points 24; and 25 and connected by a cable26 passing over pulleys 27 to the electric hoist The electric hoist iscontrolled by an automatic switchboard which reverses the motor when thebucket gets to the end of its travel at the top and at the bottom of thetower. Anyone of a number of well known conrol mechanisms can be usedwhich will automatically raise and lower the bucket and allow it topause long enough at the bottom to be loaded and at the top long enoughto be dumped.

The bucket isprovided with trunnions 28 which engage sockets 29 near thetop of the tower so that further upward movement ot the bucket near thetop of the tower dumps the bucket and discharges its load. The locationof these trunnions may be varied to cause the bucket to be dumped tothe` front or the rear. Any other suitable construction for dumping thebucket may be employed as the details of the dumping mechanism are notimportant in this application.

The bucket et rcarries arms 30 which engage the projecting ledge 3l onthe door 3, said ledge being formed by an angle iron bolted to the door.As the bucket descends, the arms 30 strike the ledge and lower the door-The counterweight is such that the weight of' the empty bucket willlower the door. It is made as heavy as possible, however, inl order thatit may assist in raising Its the bucket during` the first part of theraising movement, and at a time when the hoisting .motor is required toassert its greatest torque. The counterweight is almost heavy enoughy to"raise the empty hoisting bucket and, consequently, the hoisting motorhas to raise only the weight of the material to be hoisted `,pins theamount by which the bucket overbalances the counter-weight. In otherwords, the counterweight relieves the hoisting motor of having to startthe entire load upward.

The ledge 3l on the door is located so that when the bucket is loweredto its position on the block 7, the top ot the door` is just below thesloping` bottom ot the bin 2. The position of the parts is illustratedin Figure l.

then the bucket is raised jfrom the position of Figure l, the door 3follows it and Jforms a barrier preventing the material in the bin tromsliding into the tower. As the bucket rises, the material at the top otthe bucket tends to tall across the iront edge of the bucket and, it' noprovision were made to take care of it, it would fall into the towerwell and continue to dribble oiii as the bucket continued to rise.

As previously mentioned, there is a va `ant space in the bin at itsfront and just back of the choker plate 10. The material that firstfalls into this space is illustrated in Figure 2 which shows thematerial passing trom the top ot the bucket over its 'front edge andint-o the space where it is prevented from dropping into a pit by thetop edge of the door which follows the bucket upward. In this way, theexcess load in the bucket falls back into the bin and is rready to bedischarged into the empty bucket when it again descends tor a load. Thefact that the upward movement ot the door 3 is limited by itscontactwith the bucket insures that there will always be an opening intothe bin above the door through which the excess material may be droppedor discharged.

The major portion ot' the loose material at the top ot' the bucket will'tall over the front edge of the bucket by gravity during the first partof the raising moven'ient but vvery ot'ten small portions ot it will beheld against falling for various reasons such as the size andarrangement ot the lumps, the dampness of the material, etc. Althoughthese small portions may not tall off initially, the jar incident toraising the bucket to the top of the tower will tend to iause them todribble ott in small amounts and fall to the bottom oi' the tower well.This is highly undesirable and means have been pro vided to prevent it.The means illustrated is a guard or side extension consisting oi a plate32 pivoted at the Jfront edge oic the bucket at the points and 34. Thisplate has arms 35 carrying cam rollers adapted to engage in the camraces 37 on the sides of the tower. The weight ot the guard andassociated parts tends to normally hold it in its lower position shownin Figure l. Springs 38 are also provided tor further insuring that theparts will norn'ially remain in this position. fils the bucket 'israised, the cam rollers 35 enter the cam races 37 and the guard plateswung counterclockwise from thel position shown at the bottom oi Figurel through the center position to the position shown at the top of Figure4;. lluring this movement the springs 38 pass over center so that, whenthe guard has reached the position illustrated at the top of Figure 4e,the springs hold itV in this position. During this movement ot' theguard three things have taken place. First, as the plate is swungupwardly it throws some of t-he material out and back into the bin. Theposition of the cam races is such that the plate is swung up before thetop of the bucket passes the opening above the door 3 and, consequently,any material thrown out by the plate goes back into the bin. Second, asthe guard plate is swung to a vertical position `an empty space iscreated behind the plate into which may tall any portions of thematerial that might tend to drop oil'. Third, the swinging ot the plateto vertical position increases the height of the front side of thebucket thereby providing a higher barrier :tor preventing material fromldribbling or falling off the bucket.

lith this construction and association of parts, the bucket may beloaded cleanly ant the material prevented from falling or dribbling otafter it is loaded. All excess material is thrown back into the binbefore the bucket has raised to any great. height and any furthermaterial that might tend to dribble otl'I is prevented from falling by aguard plate. Q

lhe operation oit the hoist 1s, briefly, as 'follows As the bucket islowered it strikes the door 3, forces it downward, raises thecounterweights, and material flows trom the bin into the bucket over itst'ront side. 'lhe material flows intoV the bucket until it has reachedits normal angle ot repose shown, tor example, in Figure l.' rlheelectric switching mechanism is timed so as to allow the bucket toremain at the bottom of the tower suliiciently long to be iilled. Theswitching device then rever' the motor which starts to raise the bucket.The heavily counterweighted door aids in raising some ot the weight otthe bucket as it starts on its upward movement. As the bucket movesupward, the door 3 follows it closely and forms a. barrier to preventthe material in the bin from iowing into the tower. The ext-ra materialat the top of the bucket moves further upward, the cam rollers enter thecam races 37 and swing the guard 32 counte' clockwise thereby throwing asmall quantity of material back into the bin. This creates a space atthe front edge ot the bucket to prev-ent any further material 'tronifalling oli'. The hoisting continues until the bucket reaches to top or'the tower where it is automatically dumped. The control switches tor thehoisting motor allow the bucket to hesitate long enough to beemptiedaiter which f terialfmay be hoisted from bins near the ground to bins atthe top of a tower l'roin where it may be discharged to the coal tendersof locomotives, to storage bins, or elsewhere.

In the event that some accident should happen to the apparatus so thatythe hoisting bucket would drop betere it reached the top ot the tower,the cam rollers would enter the cam slots 37 to reverse the position ofthe guard plat-e 32. It this happened there might be considerablematerial behind the plate so that it could not be swung` to its loweredposition with the result that some thing would have to break. To provideae'ainst such a contingency, shear pins -lil shown in detail in Figures8 and 9 are used for fastening the arms to the shaft carrying the guardplate 32. lhen an excessive strain is put on the arms as it would be inthe case above-described, the pins will break. The arms may then moverelative to the shaft without injury to the mechanism. These pins can beeasily replaced.

It is to be understood that the construction shown is for the purposeoi? illustration only and that variations may be made in it withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope o' the invention as letlned in theappended claims.

What l claim is:

l. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with anopening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a. closure forsaid opening., a hoisting bucket, means Jr'or automatically lowering andraising said bucket to and 'from said opening, means tor opening saidclosure when the bucket lowered to permit the bucket to be `illed, andautomatic means 'for preventing material from drib'iilino from saidbucket after it has been raised a predetermined height.

2. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided with anopening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure torsaid opening', a hoisting' bucket, means for auton'iatically lowering'and raising' said bucket to and from said opening, means for opening theclosure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be tilted,and means carried by said bucket and operated auton'iatically during'the raising' movement thereotl to prevent material trom dribbling' fromsaid bucket.

3. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having a .receptacle -provided withanY opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure torsaid opening, a hoisting' bucket," means `tor automatically lowering'and raising' said bucket to and from said opening', means for openingsaid closure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to beiilled, and means Jfor automatically unloading' a portion of thematerial in the bucket during' the initial raising movement thereof.

i. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle pr vided withan opening' through which material to behoisted may pass, a closure forsaid opening'` a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering' andraising' said bucket to and 'trom said opening', means for opening saidclosure when the bucket is lowered to permit 'the bucketrto be filled,and means for automatically returning' a portion of the material in saidbucket to saidreceptacle during' the initial raising' movement ot' thebucket'.

5. ,An automatic, self-loading' hoist ln ving' a receptacle providedwith an opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, aclosure for said opening', a hoisting' bucket, means Jtor automatically7lowering' and raising said bucket to and from said opening', means foropening' said closure when the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket tobe filled, and means for automatically increasing the height of one sideot the bucket during` the raising' movement thereof.

(i. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle provided withan opening' through which n aterial to be hoisted may pass, a closurefor said opening', a hoisting' bucket. means tor auton'iaticallylowering` and ra sing' said bucket to and 'from said opening', means'roi' opening' said closure when the bucket is lowered to permit thebucket to be tilled, and means Ator automatically returliing' a portionot the material in said bucket to said receptacle and tor increasing'the heig'ht ot' the loading` side ot said bucket during' the initialraising' movement thereof.

7. An automatic, self-loading` hoist having' a receptacle provided withan opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure forsaid opening', a hoistingl bucket having its sides and rear relativelyhigh and its 'front relatively low, means tor automatically lowering'and raising' said bucket to and irom said opening', said bucket being'positioned so that, when lowered, it is lled from said opening' over itsiront side, means for opening' the closure when the bucket is lowered topermit the bucket to be filled, and means carried by said bucket andoperated automatically by the raising' thereot for increasing' theheight ot the front of the bucket during` the raising' movement thereof.

8. An anton'iatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle providedwith an opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, aclosure normally biased to close said opening', a hoisting' buckethaving' its sides and rear relatively high and its front relatively low.means for automatically lowering' and raising' said bucket to and tromsaid opening', said bucket being' positioned so that, when lowered, itis iilled vtrom said opening over its tront side, means for causing' thelowering' ot the bucket to open said closure, said opening' and bucketbeing' associated so that, as the bucket is raised, loose material notheld in by the front of the bucket will be returned to said receptacle,and means carried by said bucket and operated autoniatically as thebucket is raised tor preventing' material from talling' over the t'rontside oif said bucket.

9. :in automatic, seit-loading hoist having' a receptacle provided withan opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a sliding'closure` normally biased upward to close said opening, a hoisting'bucket having' its sides and rear relatively high and its iront.relatively low, means for automatically lowering' and raising' saidbucket to and from said opening', said bucket being positioned so that,when lowered. it is tilled from said opening' over its front side, meanscarried by the bucket for carrying' the door downward as the bucket islowered to thereby open said closure to permit the. bucket to be filled,said opening' and bucket being' associated so that, as the bucket israised, the loose material not held in by the iront side ot the bucket.will be returned to the receptacle, and means carried by said bucket andoperated automatically as the bucket is raised to increase the height otthe iront side ot the bucket to permit iurther loose material fromfalling' out. n

i0. An automatic, self-loading' hoist having' a receptacle provided withan opening' through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure forsaid opening', a hoisting' bucket, means for automatically lowering`said bucket, to and raising' it trom said opening', and means tormoving' the closure to closed position as the bucket is raised, saidopening having' an upward branch extending' in the direction of travelof the bucket above the position ofthe closure when in closed positionand adjacent the path `of the loading side ot the bucket for catchingloose mate iai from the loading side ot' said bucket. as it is raised. A

ll. An auton'iatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided withan opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure lorsaid opening, a hoisting bucket, a tower in which said bucket may beraised. and lowered, means for automaticallj,7 lowering said bucket toand raising it fr m said opening, and means for moving the closure toclosed position as the bucket is raised, the wall in said tower abovesaid opening being spaced from the path of said bucket to provide apassage tor permitting loose material troni the loading` side of saidbucket to Vtall into the receptacle opening as the bucket rises.

l2. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided withan opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure forsaid opening, a choker plate in said opening spaced from said closure toregulate the flow et material and to provide a space between the plateand the closure, a hoisting bucket, means for aut-omatically loweringsaid bucket to and raising it :from saidopening, and means ot moving theclosure to closed position as the bucket is raised, said opening betweenthe choker plate and the closure extending upwardly in the direction ottravel of the bucket. so that when the closure is in closed positionloose material from the loading side ot the bucket will fall into saidreceptacle opening as the bucket rises.

1.3. .An automatic, self-loading hoist having a tower, a bin near thebottom of the tower provided with a. sloping bottom and an opening" intosaid tower through which material to be hoisted will 'flow by gravity, adoor normally biased upwardly to form a barrier preventing material fromflowing through said opening, a choker plate in said opening forregulating the flow of material and for forming a space between theplate and the closure, a hoisting bucket having its two sides and rearhigher than its front side, means for automatically raising said bucketand for lowering it to a position such that .it may be lilled over itsfront side from said openinff, devices carried b v said bucket forlowering said door as the bucket is lowered, said bucket being locatedrelative to the receptacle and closure so that, as the bucket is raised,the loose material not held in bv the front side ot the bucket will fallinto the space between the choker plate and the closure, and meanscarried by the bucket and operating automatically to throw a portion ofthe material in said bucket into said space and to increase the heightof the front side of the bucket.

14. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided withan opening through which material to be hoisted maj: a closure t'or saidopening,a hoisting bucket, means for automaticallyv lowering and raisingsaid bucket to and from said opening, n'xeans tor opening said closureas the bucket is lowered to permit the bucket to be filled with materialflowing through opening, a guard plate pivoted to the rontot the let,and cam means for buck. ringing sai d plate upwardlyv to increase the cght ot the trout side oit the bucket as it faised and Yfor swinging saidplate down- 'arulv s 'the bucket is lowered.

icket tor automatic, seit-loading fr relativclj.y high sides and rearand Aa rela i. rely," low 'trent over which the bucket can be filled, anextension for the lront side of said bucket. and means connected to saidextension adapted to be auto-V i'i'zatically operated by the raising ofthe bucket 'for moving said extension to increase the height of thefront side oit the bucket.

A bucket for automatic, self-loading hoists having reiativelv high sidesand rear and a rebatir/*ehT low 'front over which the bucket may beloaded, a pivoted extension for the front side n rmall7 occupyingalowered position` and means connected to said extension adapted to berautomatically operated bv the raising oi3 the bucket to swing theextension upwardly to increase the height ot the trent side of thebucket.

l?. in automatic, seit-loading hoist having a receptacle provided withan opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure torsaid opening, a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering andraising said bucket to and Jfrom said opening, a movable plate carriedby said bucket adjacent the loading thereof. and means torautomaticalliT moving said plate to a position to form an extension onthe loading side of said bucket as thc bucket is raised.

18. An automatic, seit-loading hoist. having a receptacle provided withan opening through which material to be hoisted ma)rr pass, a closure'tor said opening` a hoisting bucket. means vtor automaticall)v loweringand raising said bucket to and troni said opening. a movable platecarried bv said bucket adjacent the loading side thereof, and means forautomatically moving said plate to a position to form an extension ofthe loading side ot the bucket as the bucket 'is raised, said platebeing positioned so that said movement causes the plate to discharge aportion of the material in the bucket into the receptacle.

19. The combination yin an automatic self-loading hoist ol a receptaclehaving an opening through which material to be hoisted may pass.,v aclosure for said opening, means for moving the closure toy closedposition, a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering andraising said bucket to and from said opening, means for automaticallyopening said closure when the bucket is lowered to thereby permit thematerial to flow into said bucket, and means carried by the bucket andoperated' automatically after the edge ot' the loading side ot thebucket has passed the level ot the material in the opening for returningto said receptacle a portion ot the material near the loading side ot'the bucket.

20. The combination in an automatic, seit-loading hoist of a receptaclehaving an opening-through which material to be hoised may pass, aclosure t'or said opening, a hoisting bucket, ineans for automaticallylowering and raising said bucket to and from said opening, and a platepivoted to the loading side et said bucket and-normally extending insile thereof, said plate being provided with means w iich is set intooperation by the raising ot the bucket rior turning said plate to avertical position to increase the height oit the loading side oi saidbucket and discharge material in iront of the plate from the bucket.

Qlflhe combination in an automatic, seliloading hoist `ot a receptaclehaving au opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, aclosure for said opening, a hoisting bucket, means for automaticallylowering and raising said bucket to and Jfrom said opening, a platepivoted adjacent the loading side ot' said bucket and normally extendinginside thereof, said plate having operating members connected therewith,and actuating devices in the path ot said members i'or engaging them asthe bucket is raised to turn said plate to vertical. position, saiddevices also engaging said members as the bucket is lowered to returnthe plate to its position inside the bucket.

22. An automatic, self-loading hoist having a receptacle provided withan opening through which material to be hoisted may pass, a closure :torsaid opening, a hoisting bucket, means for automatically lowering andraising said'bucket to and from said opening, a plate pivoted adjacentVthe loading side ot said bucket and normally extending inside thebucket, and actuating devices tor automatically turning said plate to avertical position as the bucket is raised and for returning said plateto its position inside the bucket as the bucket is lowered, saidactuating devices including portions which yield in the event saidbucket is lowered when said plate cannot be turned to the inside otVsaid bucket. n

n testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

VILLIAM E. HOVLET'V-

